Gerry Anderson, one of Northern Ireland's most respected broadcasters, has died.

A presenter on radio and television for more than 30 years, Anderson's short stint as a presenter on Radio 4 caused listeners to rebel against him. He also won fame for coining the phrase "Stroke City" to describe his native Derry/Londonderry – the second city of Northern Ireland, which has two names depending on whether you are nationalist or unionist.

The 69-year-old, who was also elevated to UK Radio's hall of fame, died after a long illness. Peter Johnston, the head of BBC Northern Ireland, where Anderson worked for most of his broadcasting career, described him as "true legend of the industry" as well as being a "man of great wit and mischief".

The MP for Foyle, Mark Durkan, said Derry had "lost a very special son", adding: "He was appreciated and respected in a way he never cultivated. He had a natural style but never styled himself for the status or the eminence he achieved, or the special connection that everyone felt with him."

Mickey Bradley, a former member of the Undertones – who worked with Anderson in BBC Radio Foyle in Derry – said he "broke the mould".

"He was very funny off-air, as he was on-air. Every morning he was never in the studio earlier than two minutes before the programme started and, of course, many times he was late for his own show."

The deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and fellow Derry native, Martin McGuinness, said Anderson was a "star of Irish radio" who had been very proud to come from the city.

The low point in his career came when Anderson joined Radio 4 to host a new programme, "Anderson Country", in 1994. The station's Middle England audience failed to take to Anderson's dry wit and laconic laid-back attitude in front of the microphone.

Low ratings, an avalanche of readers' letters complaining about the show and the hostility of the press, most notably the Sunday Telegraph, led to the show being axed and Anderson returning to rebuild in his career at Radio Ulster.

A former teacher and guitarist, Anderson was named broadcaster of the year three times and won a regional presenter of the year award in 2004.

Former radio and television presenter Mike Nesbitt, now the leader of the Ulster Unionist party, described Anderson as an "unchained and irrepressible spirit".

"I first worked with him at an Ulster grand prix when I was a sports presenter and he arrived as a roving reporter in white shoes on a dark, wet Saturday when the paddock was a sea of mud. He simply did not see what the problem was."